QuickPDA Logo
Back to Straits

Bosphorus (Istanbul Strait)

Northern gate of the Turkish Straits system, linking the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.

Istanbul Strait Passage Rules

  • •Tankers and vessels carrying dangerous cargo (excluding Ro-Ro and container ships) with a total length of 200 meters or more may only transit the strait during daylight hours.
  • •Passenger vessels with a total length of 300 meters or more may transit the Istanbul Strait during daylight hours and the Dardanelles Strait at night, provided they have a pilot on board and comply with the following four additional rules. Passenger ships with a full length of 300 meters or more that will pass through the Dardanelles Strait and dock at ports in the Istanbul Strait without passing through the Istanbul Strait and then return to the Sea of Marmara may perform departure maneuvers, including at night, provided that they have a pilot captain and comply with the following additional rules.
  • •Strait crossings by all vessels with double hulls are only permitted during daylight hours.
  • •Strait crossings by vessels subject to additional crossing conditions are only permitted during daylight hours.
  • •Strait crossings by vessels with a full length of 250 meters or more (except tankers and vessels carrying dangerous cargo) and/or deep draft vessels are only permitted during daylight hours.
  • •It is strongly recommended that these vessels transit the straits accompanied by tugboat(s) designated by the Turkish Straits Traffic Control Center (TBGTH) in accordance with the conditions specified in the 4th paragraph of Article 6 of this Instruction titled “Vessels Subject to Additional Transit Rules in the Turkish Straits and Implementation Principles.”

Current

When the upper current velocity in the Istanbul Strait exceeds 4 miles/hour or when orkoz currents form due to the south wind, vessels carrying dangerous cargo with a maneuvering speed of 10 miles/hour or less, large vessels, and deep-draught vessels shall not enter the Strait and shall wait until the current velocity drops below 4 miles per hour or the southwesterly currents cease. However, vessels other than those mentioned above may, if they wish, proceed with the assistance of tugboat(s) deemed appropriate by the TBGTH Center based on their tonnage.

Air Draft

58 m

Ships with an air draft of 58 meters or higher cannot pass through the Istanbul Strait.